We recently celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas is coming up soon and after that we’ll celebrate New Years Day. Depression is a condition commonly experienced at this time of year. Often, it leads to heart attacks, strokes and even suicide. Much study has been put into this phenomenon to find out the reason. Every study has come up with the same answer.

When people reach a certain age, they sometimes tend to loose contact with friends, family members and sometimes even reality itself. After all, many of their lifelong friends have already gone from this world to the next. Holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and the new year remind them of how alone they really are. One reason so many who still have the ability to think and do for themselves end up in nursing homes is because younger family members are not prepared to cope with the problems that are to come. The scriptures have a lot to say about these situations. Let’s look at Acts 6:1-4 for a moment:

1 — “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”

2 — “Then the 12 called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom ye may appoint over this business.”

I realize the verses I just read applies to widows. However, it applies as well to all of the brothers and sisters who have reached an age or a physical or emotional condition that causes them to look at life differently than they did before and possibly to look ahead and see nothing but darkness. We need to be merciful to such people and return that previous dignity to their lives. These people have not outlived their usefulness. We need to spend time with them, gleaning the vast wisdom embedded within their hearts. After we’ve done that, we can help them to see God is not yet finished with them in this life, and they can still serve with dignity and satisfaction.

If we do this and visit with them periodically, we will see a new light kindling within their eyes and hearts. This means they are developing a new life even in this situation they find themselves in.

There will be much less seasonal depression within our retired society if we will seek out those who do not receive regular visitors and assure them that God still has a purpose in their lives. They will then begin to see what Paul meant when he wrote “to be separate from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

I personally have reached the age of many of those in nursing homes, but fortunately, the Lord picked me up out of my depression and showed me He has much work for me to do, and I will not stop doing it as long as he puts it in front of me. This Christmas season, I will seek out those who need words of encouragement and even salvation itself. I will work toward relieving those hearts of their discomfort and fear.

The main element in seasonal depression is the fear of not having friends and family around them at this crucial time in their lives. Won’t you join me in becoming friend and family to at least one of these hurting people today? Our rewards will be in seeing the smiles on their faces as they learn that they still have much to do with the Lord. Let’s work together toward stamping out seasonal depression this Christmas season. We will find it well worth while.